Piper PA-14 Family Cruiser

The PA-14 is a largely unremarkable aircraft for its period. Construction and performance were not extraordinary in any particular manner. More about this aircraft can be found in Wikipedia.

About N5156H:

5156H, however, is a very famous aircraft in certain circles. This aircraft was operated by Nathan Saint, one of the original founders of MAF (then CAF), and joined the ranks of martyrdom with Nate the day he and 4 other missionaries were killed while ministering to an indigenous tribe in Ecuador. Nate Saint’s legacy went on to be one of the most powerful stories in mission aviation, and is portrayed in the excellent biography Jungle Pilot as well as the movie End of the Spear (based on the book of the same name by Nate Saint’s son, Steve).

Why N5156 for GoFly?

This aircraft is historically significant, a meaningful symbol of mission aviation, and played an important role in opening the high country of Ecuador to missionaries. More than that, however, it is a symbol of God’s power as well as the ultimate sacrifice given by 5 men – the very Waorani warriors that killed Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian went on to become among the first to be baptized into Faith in their village. The wives and children of the slain missionaries did the convincing by moving into the village with the Waoranis.

This story is significant to me, and is an extraordinary example of ordinary men doing nothing less than what they felt called to do – and in their obedience, writing one of the most compelling stories of the 20th century with their blood. The amazing outcome to this story as well as the courage, obedience, and tenacity of both the families and the men is simply powerful. – Jeff Fouche